McCain Jumps On Gen Dunford For Opinion On War With Russia, Syria

Senator Wicker (R-MS) seems hesitant and perhaps unfamiliar with the situation the committee he’s serving on, the Armed Services Committee, is dealing with in Syria. He’s also not being very specific, a factor that an angry little establishment Senator from Arizona readily exploits in the interest of keeping their intervention options intact.

Wicker noted that he and a Democrat Senator were discussing the possibility the US imposing a no-fly zone in Syria to stop the barrel bombing by the Syrian government. He first asks Defense Secretary Carter, who attempts to define the question more specifically, saying, “There are a number of different proposals that have been made.” He decides to focus on the plan that Secretary of State Kerry is currently promoting.

Carter describes it as “A no-fly zone for the Russians and the Syrians who are attacking the Syrian people. If they’re talking about a no-fly zone for American aircraft fighting ISIL, needless to say, that’s not going to get any enthusiasm and get strong opposition.”

He says, “Secretary Kerry’s trying to get a stand down of the Syrian and Russian air force and if he’s successful that would be a good thing.” He passes the question to General Dunford who says, “The only thing I can say is, you know, as the situation on the ground changes I have a responsibility, we the joint force has a responsibility to make sure the ‘president’ has a full range of options.”

Wicker asks, “What about the option of controlling the air space so that barrel bombs cannot be dropped?” Dunford responds, “We look at all the options.” Wicker presses a little more, asking, “What do you think of that option Sir?”

Dunford is too honest in his reply, something he’ll want to be careful about when the songbird is in the room. He answered, “Right now, Senator, for us to control all of the airspace in Syria would require us to go to war against Syria and Russia.” He added, “That’s a pretty fundamental decision that certainly I’m not going to make.” He doesn’t have to, John McCain is going to demand a revision to the response.

McCain said, in his customary condescending, lecturing tone, “To impose a no-fly zone,” disgustedly moving to the next Senator for questions. Dunford makes an emergency plea for an opportunity to modify his response , claiming that he was replying to part one of a two part question.’

Dunford says he was asked about what it would take to control all of the air space in Syria. McCain rudely replies, “No, what he asked was should we have a no-fly zone so we can protect those people from being slaughtered. That’s what he’s talking about. That’s what we’re all talking about.”

Dunford then apologizes to Senator Wicker. No wonder we’re losing and not respected. Our military leaders are humiliated by opportunistic traitors like McCain who berate them and change the question after the fact and weak know-nothings like Wicker.

It’s a disgusting display by all parties involved, particularly by General Dunford. He’s the military expert in the group and they are asking for his opinion. They don’t have to like it, but he also doesn’t have to change it to meet their preferences.

It illustrates the vague and poor method in which the question was asked in the fact that Carter responded as to whether that included a no-fly zone for American aircraft. We’re not dropping barrel bombs and wouldn’t admit it if we were. Wicker was more interested in his clever idea to call it something other than what it was than in asking a clear question. There’s nothing clever in that, Senator, it’s standard operating procedure for your Democrat colleague, just as partnering with terrorists is for Republicans like John McCain and Lindsey Graham.